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Capacity Building Plan Mekong River Commission (MRC)

Mekong River Commission
The role of MRC is to promote and coordinate sustainable management and development of water and related resources for the countries’ mutual benefit and the people’s well-being
MRC Secretariat is now recruiting a highly qualified consultant for the following consultancy
Consultant
For Capacity Building Plan for the MRC Water Quality Monitoring Network (WQNM) to implement the MRC Technical Guidelines for the Protection of
Human Health (TGH) and Aquatic Life (TGA)
Environment Programme , Environment Division
Maximum of 35 working days starting from March to June 2012,
based at the Office of Secretariat in Vientiane, Lao PDR, with travels to MRC Member Countries
The Term of Reference and other information can be obtained at MRC website http://www.mrcmekong.org/working-with-mrc/employment/ . Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be notified.
Application procedures:
The application should include (i) a cover letter outlining clearly how the candidate meets the requirements of the position, (ii) a detailed CV, and (iii) MRC Personal History Form. The position title and division/section must be indicated in the cover letter.The application should be sent to:
Mekong River Commission Secretariat
P.O. Box 6101
184 Fa Ngoum Road, Unit 18
Ban Sithane Neua, Sikhottabong District, Vientiane 010000, Lao PDR
Closing date for applications: 9 March 2012
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Terms of Reference
Programme Title: Environment Programme
Title of Consultancy: Capacity Building Plan for the MRC Water Quality Monitoring Network (WQNM) to implement the MRC Technical Guidelines for the Protection of Human Health (TGH) and Aquatic Life (TGA)
Duty station: The Office of MRC Secretariat in Vientiane with travel to Member Countries
Duration: 35 Working Days between March and June 2012
Introduction
The Procedures for Water Quality is one of the five procedures established under the Mekong River Commission Water Utilisation Project in 1999. The objective of the Procedures for Water Quality is to establish a cooperative framework for maintenance of acceptable/good water quality to promote the sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin. Since its establishment, various activities have been carried out to finalise the Procedure for Water Quality and its associated technical guidelines. Technical Guideline for the Protection of Human Health (hereafter TGH) and the Technical Guideline for the Protection of Aquatic Life (hereafter TGA) are two of the technical guidelines for implementing Procedure for Water Quality. Both TGH and TGA call for the Member Countries (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam) to establish water quality monitoring programmes to monitor the long term trends and the suitability of the Mekong River water quality for the protection of human health and aquatic life within their respective national boundaries. The monitoring programmes will also aim to identify problems and pressures along the Mekong River and its tributaries.
For the implementation of the TGH and TGA, the Mekong River Commission Water Quality Monitoring Network (WQMN) Laboratories have been designated as the implementers of the monitoring programmes. The WQMN was established in 1985 to monitor the water quality of the Mekong River and its tributaries. In 2012, the WQMN Laboratories will conduct routine monitoring of 18 water quality parameters at 48 water quality monitoring stations in the Lower Mekong Basin. However, the water quality parameters monitored by the WQMN Laboratories do not yet include those classified as “Direct Impact Parameters”, as outlined in Table 1.4.1 of TGH and items 1-10 in Table 2.4.1 of TGA, because the Member Countries do not posses the capacity to monitor these parameters. They are, however, considered by the Member Countries as strategically important to be included in future monitoring and assessment activities, considering the expected economic growth and increased basin development of the Mekong riparian countries. As such, they have been included in the TGH and TGA of the Procedure for Water Quality. This is because these contaminants, including persistent organics pollutants and heavy metals, tend to accumulate along the food-chain. Therefore, they are a concern and potential risk for both aquatic life and the protection of human health.
To assist the Member Countries fulfil their obligations in the maintenance of acceptable/good water quality of the Mekong River, capacity gaps associated with the monitoring of the “Direct Impact Parameters” must be addressed.
Previous and Ongoing Capacity Assessment and Development Plan
It has been recognised by the MRC Environment Programme that other MRC Programmes have carried out capacity assessment for Procedure for Water Quality at both the national and regional levels. For instance, the Regional and National Capacity Development Action Plans (CDAP) are currently being developed to implement the MRC Procedures as part of the framework of the Mekong Integrated Water Resource Management (M-IWRM) Project. Additionally, in 2012 the MRC ICCS (International Cooperation and Communication Section) will be conducting capacity gaps assessment and development of the National Roadmap for the decentralisation of the MRC core river basin management (RBM) functions. These assessments will provide an overview of general capacity needs areas of the Member Countries to implement different core RBM functions, in which many of the needs may refer to the capacity to implement the Procedure for Water Quality. The CDAP is attached for reference of the initially identified needs for capacity building for the implementation of the PWQ in four member countries.
As such, this consultancy assignment will build on the initial findings of the capacity assessment conducted by other MRC Programmes to identify specific capacity building needs in the four Member Countries regarding the strengthened capacity to implement better the Procedures for Water Quality, specifically for the implementation of TGH and TGA.. This will also ensure that the capacity building for implementing the Procedure for Water Quality is done within the framework of the Mekong Integrated Water Resource Management Project – MIWRM-P’s CDAP, addressing competencies as identified in the IWRM competency framework[1].
Objectives
The objectives of this assignment are to:
· Assess the current status of the human resources and equipment needs of the designated Water Quality Monitoring Network Laboratories in the Member Countries to implement the Technical Guideline for the Protection of Human Health and the Technical Guideline for the Protection of Aquatic Life; and
· Prepare a detailed and costed Capacity Building Plan (CBP), outlining specific equipment and skills required for the designated Water Quality Monitoring Network Laboratories to successfully implement TGH and TGA. The CBP should identify target groups, expected learning outcomes, capacity development approaches and the framework for monitoring and evaluating the expected outcomes
Tasks and Responsibilities:
This consultancy assignment is divided into three distinct tasks. The first involves the review of existing documents within the MRC and the development of process for capacity needs assessment. Using the process, the consultant will conduct capacity needs assessment of the designated laboratories of the MRC Water Quality Monitoring Network. Based on the results of the capacity needs assessment, the consultant is required to develop a Capacity Building Plan, outlining human resource capacity development activities and equipments required for the designated laboratories to successfully implement TGH and TGA. Detailed responsibilities of the consultant for each task are outlined as follows:
1. Literature Review and Develop Process for Capacity Needs Assessment
· Conduct a desk review of relevant documents including PWQ, TGH, TGA, the MRC Environment Programme Implementation Plan for 2011-2015, ICBP’s Regional and National CDAP, previous methodology produced by the MRCS for capacity assessment, draft IWRM competency framework and results of previous capacity assessment of the Member Countries to implement Procedures for Water Quality.
· Prepare a concept note outlining processes for capacity needs assessment of the designated laboratories of the MRC WQMN and discuss the prepared concept note with the MRC EP and ICBP.
2) Capacity Needs Assessment
· Work closely with the National Consultants who will be nominated by National Mekong Committee Secretariats during the visit to the designated water quality monitoring network laboratories of the Member Countries, informing them about the objectives of the assignment.
· Visit the designated Water Quality Monitoring Network laboratories of the Member Countries and (a) review their available human resources, equipments, skills and financial resource for implementing TGH and TGA, and (b) discuss and consult with the designated laboratories the most effective ways to strengthen their capacities to improve the implementation of TGH and TGA. .
· Conduct capacity needs assessment of the designated Water Quality Monitoring Network laboratories of the Member Countries, including (a) human resource needs capacity (staff and monitoring, sampling, laboratory analytical and reporting skills), (b) equipment capacity (chemicals, equipments and tools required for sampling and analysis of water quality parameters outlined in TGH and TGA), and (c) monitoring, managing and over-sighting capacity of the related stakeholders in the implementation process.
3) Capacity Building Plan
  1. Based on the results of the capacity needs assessment of the designated Water Quality Monitoring Network laboratories, prepare a Capacity Building Plan, detailing specific capacity requirements in terms of human and equipment needs. The Capacity Building Plan should include:
    • A detailed capacity building results framework, specifying capacity development activities[2], target groups, learning outcomes and monitoring and evaluation framework required for the Member Countries to successfully implement the TGH and TGA. The Capacity Development framework should show the linkages to the ICBP Regional and National CDAP.
    • Outline potential MRC‘s internal and external collaboration partners for implementing capacity building activities (this can be done through one on one interview or group discussion with related MRC programmes)
    • An estimated budget for implementing capacity building activities and upgrading laboratory equipments for implementing TGH and TGA
    • A timeframe for implementing specific capacity building activities outlined in the developed Capacity Development, taking into account the MRC Environment Programme Implementation Plan.
    • An annex that describes statements of work for each training activities listed in the Capacity Building Plan. This statement of work needs to capture the scope of the training activities, responsibilities, deliverables, performance indicators, qualification of trainers and recommended timeline for the implementation.
4) Other requirement:
  1. Facilitate a workshop to present the Capacity Building Plan to the Member Countries, outlining the roadmap for implementing capacity building activities.
Working principles and reporting line:
· The consultant will be working under the overall supervision of the Director of the Environment Division and in close consultation with the EP Programme Coordinator, Chef Technical Advisor, Senior Environmental Specialist and the Programme Officer for Water Quality.
· The consultant will be working closely with the National Focal Points who will be nominated by the National Mekong Committee Secretariat and Directors of the Water Quality Monitoring Network Laboratories of the Member Countries when conducting capacity needs assessment.
· The consultant will work with other MRCS areas as required, e.g. ICBP and ICCS.
Expected Outputs:
The consultant is expected to produce the following outputs:
  • A concept note outlining process for developing capacity building plan, and
  • Capacity Building Plan as outlined in Item 2 of Tasks and Responsibilities.
Timetable and Schedule of Deliverables:
A tentatively schedule is provided below. The exact schedule will depend on the timing of the commission of the consultant, but it is anticipated that the assignment will commence during the first quarter of 2012.

Tasks/deliverables
Estimated time (days)
Estimated timing
5
March 2012
Based on the results of the reviews, prepare a concept note outlining process for developing capacity building plan, to be discussed with the MRCs Environment Programme and relevant MRCS Programmes
3
March – April 2012
Conduct capacity needs assessment of the designated WQMN laboratories to implement TGH and TGA
12
April - May 2012
Prepare capacity building plan and present the CDP at a workshop for EP, MRCS and relevant line agencies of the Member Countries. The consultant to finalize the plan based on the comments and suggestions of the workshop.
15
May - June 2012
Total
35
March - June 2012
Qualifications/requirement:
The expertise and qualifications necessary for the assignment include the following:
MSc or PhD in topics relating to analytical chemistry or related fields (e.g. chemistry, biology, biochemistry, environmental science, environmental toxicology) with at least 10 years working experience in a laboratory environment.
Excellent knowledge and experience of the monitoring, sampling and analysis of heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants and pesticide in water.
Excellent knowledge and experience of Quality Control / Quality Assurance procedure in water quality monitoring, sampling, laboratory analysis and data compilation.
Experience in capacity needs assessment of analytical laboratories
Experience with results based capacity development frameworks.
Good understanding of how to evaluate learning outcomes.
Excellent competence and experiences in analyzing, writing, presenting, reporting and editing scientific information and data in English.
Familiarity with issues and developments of water and water-related resources and the environment of the Mekong River Basin.
Strong skills to communicate scientific information
Proficiency in English, both written and spoken.
Condition of payment:
  • A daily fee rate paid according to completion of deliverables and DSA for time spent outside of Vientiane in accordance with MRCS’s regulations.
  • One return-trip (economy class) from home country to Lao PDR for work to be undertaken at OSV will be reimbursed.
  • Travel cost related to official business travel, if any, will be reimbursed separately in accordance with MRCS’s regulations.


[1] The IWRM competency framework is currently in a draft version which has been consulted on widely. It will be finalized by April 2012.
[2] Activities should be based on value for money, ensuring the most effective and efficient approach is chosen, taking into consideration Member countries’ different requirements. While training may appear to be a suitable approach, the consultant should consider other approaches as well.